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Cold in Paris: Spectators at the game between Azarenka and Kovinic are very involved. Image: www.imago-images.de
Trouble at the French Open: cold and balls you wouldn’t even give the dog to chew on
Day 1 at the French Open is already causing strong emotions. But only figuratively. What is causing problems at Roland Garros at the moment has nothing to do with the heat, on the contrary. The cold is what worries different players. The French Open is held regularly from May to June; Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the tournament has been postponed until the end of September.
Viktoria Azarenka played in the training jacket. Image: keystone
Viktoria Azarenka, still a US Open finalist, was particularly upset by the low temperatures: “When you play at eight degrees, it is quite difficult,” said the 31-year-old, who complained during a short break about rain, not like a “Duck” wanting to sit in the plaza. Guys, you’re kidding, right? What are we doing here? Everything is getting a little ridiculous. I’m not sitting here to freeze to death. I live in Florida, I’m used to hot weather. ” he told the supervisor.
Officially, around eleven degrees Celsius was measured on the Suzanne-Lenglen court. Due to the wind, the temperatures should have felt a bit colder. After the game, the Belarusian also said that the cold increased the risk of injury. “I think that after the tournament there should be good comments, explanations and discussions with the players.”
But it’s not just the cold that is a problem at Roland Garros, but also the balls. The “Babolat” balls have been replaced by the “Wilson” brand. 12-time French Open winner Rafael Nadal spoke diplomatically, saying they weren’t good balls to play on clay.
Rafael Nadal is not a fan of new balls. Image: keystone
“I trained with the balls before the comeback. In Mallorca, in warm conditions, the ball was very slow. This is not a good ball to play on clay. But I knew it before I came here. No problem. Take the challenge. The organizers must watch very carefully how the heavier balls affect the elbows and shoulders of the players. “
Rafael Nadal
Englishman Dan Evans found clearer words: “The balls were so bad that I wouldn’t even give them to a dog to chew on.” The Brit added: “It’s brutal. It’s cold. But I think the balls are the biggest problem. Maybe they were a bit wrong with the balls. It is difficult to carry the ball anywhere. The ball is a little too heavy I think. “
Appearance says it all: Brit Dan Evans doesn’t like balls at all. Image: keystone
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